Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services
Emma Eccles Jones became Northern Utah’s first Kindergarten teacher in 1926, after her former geography teacher, Miss Edith Bowen, persuaded her to put her new degree from Teachers College at Columbia University to use.
In 1927, Utah State University started a School of Education. In 1928 it established a teacher training school, absorbing Whittier School into its program. It became a place where student teachers could experience hands-on learning.
Emma continued as a teacher while the program evolved. Her dedication continued long after she stopped teaching and would later result in enormous support for the college, which now bears her name.
Jon M. Huntsman School of Business
The Jon M. Huntsman School of Business’s legacy stretches back to the beginning of Utah State University, when courses in commerce were initiated to provide training for office workers and bank tellers, making it one of oldest business schools west of the Mississippi River.
When Utah State Agricultural College became Utah State University in 1957, the School of Commerce and Business Administration became the College of Business. The college was again renamed in 2007, becoming the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business after receiving a generous $25 million donation from the Huntsman Foundation.
Jon M. Huntsman, Sr., gave more than $100 million in the mid-1990s to establish a research center at the University of Utah dedicated to finding a cure for cancer through human genetics. Huntsman, who lost both his parents to cancer and fought his own battle with the disease, eventually gave more than $400 million to the Huntsman Cancer Institute and its foundation.
S.J. & Jessie E. Quinney College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
The S.J. and Jessie E. Quinney College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Utah State University reflects both a rich legacy and a forward-looking vision for the future. Established through a July 2025 merger, the college brings together agriculture and applied sciences with natural resources disciplines, uniting two of the university’s most respected traditions to better address the complex challenges of the twenty-first century.
The college builds on more than a century of leadership in agriculture and natural resources education. From early programs in forestry and range management in the 1920s to the establishment of the College of Natural Resources and its continued growth in research and teaching, Utah State has long been committed to understanding and sustaining the systems that support life, including food, water, land, and communities.
Named in honor of S.J. and Jessie E. Quinney, the college also reflects a legacy of generosity and belief in education. Both graduates of Utah State, S.J. and Jessie gave generously in support of the university, leaving a lasting impact that continues to shape opportunities for students and faculty.
The college is uniquely positioned to advance the land-grant mission by integrating research, teaching, and Extension. Its diverse programs span agriculture, natural resources, applied sciences, and community-focused disciplines, creating opportunities for collaboration, innovation, and hands-on learning.
Rooted in tradition and driven by purpose, the Quinney College of Agriculture and Natural Resources prepares students to lead, serve, and strengthen communities across Utah and the West.
*Note: All bios are current and up-to-date as of Summer 2022.